Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 881.314. Vesting

(a) Should a contributor, before reaching superannuation retirement age and after having completed twelve years of total service, for any reason cease to be a municipal fireman or a municipal policeman, he shall be entitled to vest his retirement benefits until he attains superannuation retirement age, by filing with the board a written notice of his intentions to vest, within ninety days of the date of his termination of employment.  Accumulated deductions will include interest from date of termination until the earlier of the date of the commencement of the annuity or the date of payment of member contributions.

(b) A contributor, who was terminated by the municipality not voluntarily, may elect, after he has vested, to be paid as follows:

(c) A contributor, who voluntarily terminated his employment, may elect, after he has vested, to be paid as follows:

(d) Should a contributor, who has vested, die before he becomes eligible for a retirement allowance, the full amount of the accumulated deductions plus the balance in the member's excess investment account including interest to the date of his death, standing to his credit in the member's account of the fund shall be paid to his estate or to his named beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 308.  3

(e) Upon the termination of the retirement plan, all members, regardless of credited service, shall be deemed fully vested in their accrued benefit to the extent the benefits provided under the plan are funded as of the date of termination.